I didn't mean to personally attack you or anything I just saw an inaccuracy and tried correct it. Gas powered rabbits had 0-60 times in the sub 14 second range and that is quicker than the diesels by a pretty large margin. The 17.8 second 0-60 number must have been a euro model 1.1 liter car or something.
The FO and FF code 5spds were introduced in 1978 in gas powered cars.
I am a bit of a rabbit geek and have been building, collecting and driving them since 1989. Every period road test I have read and my own personal experience with dozens of these cars over 20 years contradicts the statement that diesels are quicker.